Spiritual Growth Is a Lifelong Journey

[Spiritual Growth Is a Lifelong Journey]( Current Teaching Series [You Make Me Crazy]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [Spiritual Growth Is a Lifelong Journey]( By Rick Warren — 06/07/2021 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email]( “This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.” Ephesians 4:13 (CEV) Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth. Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic. It’s gradual and progressive. Paul said, “This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him” (Ephesians 4:13 CEV). You are a work in progress. Your spiritual transformation—developing the character of Jesus—will take the rest of your life. And even then it won’t be completed here on Earth. It will only be finished when you get to heaven or when Jesus returns. At that point, any unfinished work on your character will be wrapped up. The Bible says that when you’re finally able to see Jesus perfectly, you will become perfectly like him: “We are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2 NLT). Many Christians become confused because they ignore this simple truth: God is far more interested in building your character than he is in anything else. People worry when God seems silent on specific issues, such as “What career should I choose?” The truth is, there are many different careers that could be in God’s will for your life. What God cares about most is that whatever you do, you do in a Christlike manner. God is far more interested in who you are than in what you do. We are human beings, not human doings. God is much more concerned about your character than your career—because you will take your character into eternity, not your career. God’s purpose is to make you like him before he takes you to heaven. Becoming like Jesus is your greatest privilege, your immediate responsibility, and your ultimate destiny. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - How have you seen God shaping your character to be more like Jesus? - God is more interested in who you are than in what you do. How does knowing this change the things you’re praying about or worrying about? - Your spiritual transformation will take your whole life—and not be completed until you see Jesus face to face. How does that knowledge affect how you live each day? The post [Spiritual Growth Is a Lifelong Journey]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email]( [Get the Relationships Scripture Cards when you give a gift to support Daily Hope]( $50,000 Matching Grant doubles your gift, doubles your impact! Memorizing Scripture is one of the key habits that opens the door for greater blessings in your life and your relationships with others. That’s why we want to send you this NEW collection of Scripture cards selected specifically to help you improve your relationships. This special set of 52 eye-catching cards share wisdom from God’s Word to help you strengthen your relationships with others—and they’re our way to say thanks for your gift below to help take the transforming power of God’s Word further around the world through Daily Hope. [LEARN MORE]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 8 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series You Make Me Crazy. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: Six Keys to Peace in Relationships Message 2: Who's Pushing Your Buttons? Message 3: Resolving Conflict Message 4: Finding the Love of Your Life Message 5: Breaking Free from Abuse Message 6: Escaping the People Pleaser Trap Message 7: Keeping the Crazymakers from Making You Crazy Message 8: How to Keep Your Marriage Growing [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com]( Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.]( As the founding pastor of Saddleback Church with his wife Kay, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000-member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As an author, his book [The Purpose Driven Life]( is one of the best-selling nonfiction books in publishing history. It has been translated into 74 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. His book [The Purpose Driven Church]( was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the century. Rick also founded [The PEACE Plan]( to address five global issues—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. You can listen to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope, his daily 25-minute audio teaching, and sign up for his free daily devotionals at [PastorRick.com](. © 2021 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, 23182 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, United States